A QUARTER of UK children aged between 11 and 15 have been offered drugs, which can be a worry for many parents. Starting discussions early - and keeping those conversations going - can be crucial when it comes to legal and illegal highs, says psychiatrist Dr Owen Bowden-Jones.

Dr Bowden-Jones, who’s written a book called The Drug Conversation to help parents navigate the thorny issue, explains: “What I’m advocating is that parents have a conversation with their children around the age of 10 to 12 years, signposting them to good information, because there’s so much misinformation out there.

The book also aims to help parents who are aware, or suspect, their child is using drugs, and want to know what to do. Here are some tips...

  • Don’t wait till there’s a crisis - begin the conversations years before this possibility could arise.
  •  Prepare what you’re going to say, ideally with the other parent.
  •  Begin with less personal questions like, ‘What have you learned at school about drugs?’ l Don’t lecture - make sure it’s a two-way discussion.
  •  Give your opinion of drugs, but explain why and don’t exaggerate. Give a realistic summary of the risks.
  •  Discuss alcohol too.
  •  Tell your child where they can find accurate information.
  •  Mention any history of drug problems in the family. If you’ve taken drugs yourself, decide beforehand how much you’ll say about this.
  •  Give praise and return to the topic in a week.